Patent GB-189917651-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriting and Adding Machines.
Inventor: FELL JOHN CORRY
Filed: 1899-08-31
Granted: 1900-04-14
Abstract: 17,651. Fell, J. C., [Union Typewriter Co.]. Aug. 31. Type-writers and like machines.- A type-writing and adding machine for writing words and columns of figures and automatically adding the figures is shown in longitudinal section in Fig. 3. The framework comprises two parallel plates 2, 3 connected by uprights, and two standards attached to the rear part of the plate 3 and connected by rods 6. Upon the plate 2 are feet encircled by rubber sleeves 7 which are longer than the feet. The space between the plates 2, 3 is enclosed by sheet metal or hard rubber plates 9 sprung into grooves formed in the plates. The key levers 21 are pivoted upon knifeedges 23, and have projections 20 which enter recesses 19 formed in the enlarged circular ends 17 of the type-bars 11. Each type-bar is formed of two parts 12, 13, hinged together at 14 so as to allow motion of the parts in a direction at right angles to the plane of the paper, and the circular ends 17 are formed with slots 18 which engage with a shaft 15. Springs 28, attached to the plate 3 and having their free ends bent over the levers 21, normally hold the levers down. The space-key levers 30 may be mounted in the same way as the key levers. The types a, b, c are secured to the bars in any suitable way. A frame 31 extends round the series of type-bars and is secured to guide-bars 32, having rearwardlyprojecting arms which are parallel to each other and form a central guide, at the printing point, for the type - bars. The arms are connected by arms 35a and oblique arms 36 to the machine framing. Blocks 39 having inclined surfaces are provided on the parts 12 of the type-bars, and serve to guide adjacent bars into their proper portions within the frame 31, and combs 40, 41, extending between the guide-bars 32, serve as rests and guides for the parts 13 of the type-bars. The types are inked by means of a roller mounted on a vertical axis supported by brackets attached to one of the guide-bars 32. The inking-mechanism may be the same as that described in Specifications No. 9421, A.D. 1886, and No. 9792, A.D. 1887. The platen 38 is secured to a spindle 66 mounted in the ends pieces 57 of the platen-carrier, provided with tie-rods 58 which are attached by means of plates 60 and screws 61, 62, to the upper ends of vertical rods 54 mounted in arms 48, 49, forming part of the paper carriage. A roller 64, mounted upon a bar 63 connecting the rods 54, runs on a rod 65 forming part of the platenshifting mechanism. The paper carriage comprises a frame 47 provided with guide-rollers which run along the rods 6. Hand-wheels, for use in turning the platen, are mounted upon the ends of the shaft 66, an accidental return motion being prevented by ratchet-wheels and spring-controlled detents attached to the end pieces 57 of the platen-carrier. The paper is pressed against the platen by a roller 87 mounted, preferably, upon the paper guide 88, which is pivoted to the platen carrier and is pressed upwards by springs 90. A small rod 91 carried by pivoted arms provided with handles 95 is arranged above the platen, and assists in holding the paper. A toothed bar 98 on the carriage is formed with longitudinal grooves 99, within which are pivoted two carriage stops having cross-bars which engage with the rack teeth. The letter-feed mechanism, which operates step bv step, comprises a plate 116 carrying a tooth 117 which engages with rack 118 carried by arms 125 mounted upon the plate 3. The plate 116 is fixed to the carriage, and supports a plate 119 provided with a tooth 120 which also engages with the rack 118 ; the plate 119 is slightly movable relatively to the plate 116. A spring having its ends respectively attached to plates 116, 119 tends to draw the tooth 120 towards the rack. An adjustable spring tends to draw the carriage towards the left hand. The platen is moved into its depressed position to allow the lower type a to print, or into its raised position to allow the types c to print, by means of a V-shaped key lever 144 carrying keys 148, 149, and connected to the rod 65 by means of a rod 145 and levers 140. By means of spring catches the key lever 144 may be held in either of its extreme positions. An adding-mechanism, which can be thrown out of or into operation at will, is attached to the type-writer for the use of book-keepers or others. This mechanism comprises two sets 164, 165 of adding-wheels loosely mounted upon a shaft 166, which is mounted in brackets 167 secured to a sliding plate 169 provided with a handle 171, Fig. 5, by means of which the plate 169 can be moved between fixed stops 172, 173. Upon two parallel shafts 174, 175, respectively, are mounted sets of toothed wheels 178, 181, which gear with toothed wheels 179 secured to the adding-wheels. Each toothed wheel 178, except the extreme left-hand one, carries two pinions 183 mounted near the periphery of the wheel and diametrically opposite each other. These pinions are controlled by springs so that they can turn in one direction only, and are arranged to transmit motion to pinions 182 mounted on the shaft 175 and gearing with toothed wheels 180 secured to the adding-wheels. The pinion carried by any wheel 178 meshes with the toothed wheel 180 secured to the adjacent adding-wheel of a higher denomination. As any wheel 164, 165 rotates, the next wheel of the series is periodically rotated by the gearing 179, 181, 178, 183, and 180, 182. The numbers giving the totals may be seen through a horizontal slot formed in the plate 9, Fig. 3. Any wheel 178 is brought into gear, at the proper time, with a toothed wheel 190 mounted to slide upon a shaft 202 and attached to a fork 201 secured to a rack bar which is actuated by means of a rack 191 on the carriage, and pinions 195, 198, secured to a shaft 196. The rotation of the shaft 202 is effected by means of wheels 219 engaging racks on the undersides of a sliding plate 214, which is provided with stepped portions adapted to engage with wedge-shaded blocks 212 secured to pivoted levers 209 connected by links 208 to key levers 21 bearing digits. The distances traversed by the plate 214 are proportional to the numbers on the key levers which are actuated, and no rotation of the wheel 190 takes place unless a number key is depressed, although the wheel 190 may be moved along the shaft during the operation of the machine. The number wheels may be brought back to their zero or initial positions by turning a rod 231 carrying a roller 227 which can be moved into contact with the wheels. When making out tabular statements or bills, the carriage is brought quickly into the correct positions for ensuring the writing of the various items below one another, units under units, tens under tens, and so on, by means of movable stops actuated by a separate set of key levers.